Playhouse funding on county agenda

Published: Monday, January 7, 2013 at 4:30 a.m.

Last Modified: Sunday, January 6, 2013 at 8:01 p.m.

Henderson County commissioners will kick off the new year Monday with a discussion of whether to release $50,000 in county funds to the Flat Rock Playhouse. They'll also hear from Sheriff Charlie McDonald about security at the 1995 courthouse and from a group of citizens seeking restrictions on assault weapons.

In November, commissioners voted 4-1 to freeze payment of $50,000 remaining from a $100,000 allocation the county budgeted for the Playhouse last summer, citing concerns about the theater's management and fiscal dealings. Because the vote wasn't unanimous, though, a second vote was required to hold the funds in county coffers.

Since then, some commissioners have reconsidered the Playhouse contribution after the nonprofit theater released a detailed business plan, began the process of hiring a new financial manager and won the support of several high-profile business leaders and the Town of Flat Rock, which ponied up $100,000 last month to help the struggling nonprofit pay down debt.

Though encouraged by recent improvements in the theater's financial picture, incoming Commissioner Grady Hawkins said Sunday he's not in favor of giving the Playhouse more county funds than the $50,000 that's already been disbursed.

“At this point, we really shouldn't be putting any more money into the Flat Rock Playhouse,” Hawkins said. “I'm encouraged that they're off on the right track, but the remaining part of this county money ought to remain in the general fund.”

To do otherwise wouldn't be fair to other tourism-generating businesses in the county, Hawkins said, including the Hendersonville Little Theater. “If I were running the Little Theater, I'd wonder why the government was compensating my competitor,” he said, adding that further funding for the Playhouse would be “setting a bad precedent.”

But Vice Chairman Tommy Thompson, one of four commissioners who voted to freeze the $50,000 in November, said he now supports allowing the next quarterly payment of $25,000 to be disbursed this week, on schedule.

“We promised, we made an obligation and I think we have the responsibility to do that in this round,” Thompson said. But he added that if Playhouse leaders failed to follow through on their promise to better balance expenses and revenues, “Who's to say the last payment (of $25,000) might not be made?”

Thompson, who spent 32 years as Clerk of Superior Court, said he favors beefing up security at the 1995 courthouse, a topic commissioners will hear about from Sheriff McDonald. In 1994, eight officers was the number identified as necessary to secure the courthouse, he said, about five short of current staffing.

People who enter the courthouse are “tense, they are stressed, they are on edge, they are ready to fuss and fight and they're ready to take things to the next level,” said Thompson, who has personally broken up three fights in his career. “We're just lucky we haven't had a greater instance than we've had.”

A citizens' group seeking a local ban on assault weapons and “high-capacity” magazines will bring their campaign to the Historic Courthouse, urging county commissioners to take action to prevent gun violence.

Prompted by the Dec. 24 massacre in Newtown, Conn., a group of roughly 20 activists led by the Rev. Ken Kinnett asked Hendersonville City Council last week to outlaw the sale of assault weapons and clips holding more than 10 bullets. City officials said their hands were tied because the state doesn't give them that power.

County Attorney Russ Burrell said commissioners are in the same position. “They're not allowed to face that issue,” he said, referring to an assault weapons ban, because the N.C. General Assembly does not grant local bodies that authority.

While accepting that fact, Kinnett and other citizen activists said they will continue to pressure local and state government officials to curb the proliferation of military-style assault weapons. Several citizens plan to speak during the public comment period of the commissioners' meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday.

“We're doing it to keep it in the limelight,” Kinnett said, adding that he is lobbying other retired clergymen to get involved with the issue. He said he was surprised to find that at least 14 gun or pawn shops in Henderson County sell assault weapons, though some are currently out of stock.

Kinnett's wife, Loyd, said the goal is to “start a conversation” on the issue of assault weapons locally that will leverage greater action by the N.C. General Assembly, perhaps even allowing local governments like Hendersonville to eventually decide whether to allow the sale of assault weapons in their boundaries.

<p>Henderson County commissioners will kick off the new year Monday with a discussion of whether to release $50,000 in county funds to the Flat Rock Playhouse. They'll also hear from Sheriff Charlie McDonald about security at the 1995 courthouse and from a group of citizens seeking restrictions on assault weapons.</p><p>In November, commissioners voted 4-1 to freeze payment of $50,000 remaining from a $100,000 allocation the county budgeted for the Playhouse last summer, citing concerns about the theater's management and fiscal dealings. Because the vote wasn't unanimous, though, a second vote was required to hold the funds in county coffers.</p><p>Since then, some commissioners have reconsidered the Playhouse contribution after the nonprofit theater released a detailed business plan, began the process of hiring a new financial manager and won the support of several high-profile business leaders and the Town of Flat Rock, which ponied up $100,000 last month to help the struggling nonprofit pay down debt.</p><p>Though encouraged by recent improvements in the theater's financial picture, incoming Commissioner Grady Hawkins said Sunday he's not in favor of giving the Playhouse more county funds than the $50,000 that's already been disbursed. </p><p>“At this point, we really shouldn't be putting any more money into the Flat Rock Playhouse,” Hawkins said. “I'm encouraged that they're off on the right track, but the remaining part of this county money ought to remain in the general fund.”</p><p>To do otherwise wouldn't be fair to other tourism-generating businesses in the county, Hawkins said, including the Hendersonville Little Theater. “If I were running the Little Theater, I'd wonder why the government was compensating my competitor,” he said, adding that further funding for the Playhouse would be “setting a bad precedent.”</p><p>But Vice Chairman Tommy Thompson, one of four commissioners who voted to freeze the $50,000 in November, said he now supports allowing the next quarterly payment of $25,000 to be disbursed this week, on schedule. </p><p>“We promised, we made an obligation and I think we have the responsibility to do that in this round,” Thompson said. But he added that if Playhouse leaders failed to follow through on their promise to better balance expenses and revenues, “Who's to say the last payment (of $25,000) might not be made?”</p><p>Thompson, who spent 32 years as Clerk of Superior Court, said he favors beefing up security at the 1995 courthouse, a topic commissioners will hear about from Sheriff McDonald. In 1994, eight officers was the number identified as necessary to secure the courthouse, he said, about five short of current staffing. </p><p>People who enter the courthouse are “tense, they are stressed, they are on edge, they are ready to fuss and fight and they're ready to take things to the next level,” said Thompson, who has personally broken up three fights in his career. “We're just lucky we haven't had a greater instance than we've had.”</p><p>A citizens' group seeking a local ban on assault weapons and “high-capacity” magazines will bring their campaign to the Historic Courthouse, urging county commissioners to take action to prevent gun violence.</p><p>Prompted by the Dec. 24 massacre in Newtown, Conn., a group of roughly 20 activists led by the Rev. Ken Kinnett asked Hendersonville City Council last week to outlaw the sale of assault weapons and clips holding more than 10 bullets. City officials said their hands were tied because the state doesn't give them that power.</p><p>County Attorney Russ Burrell said commissioners are in the same position. “They're not allowed to face that issue,” he said, referring to an assault weapons ban, because the N.C. General Assembly does not grant local bodies that authority. </p><p>While accepting that fact, Kinnett and other citizen activists said they will continue to pressure local and state government officials to curb the proliferation of military-style assault weapons. Several citizens plan to speak during the public comment period of the commissioners' meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m. Monday.</p><p>“We're doing it to keep it in the limelight,” Kinnett said, adding that he is lobbying other retired clergymen to get involved with the issue. He said he was surprised to find that at least 14 gun or pawn shops in Henderson County sell assault weapons, though some are currently out of stock.</p><p>Kinnett's wife, Loyd, said the goal is to “start a conversation” on the issue of assault weapons locally that will leverage greater action by the N.C. General Assembly, perhaps even allowing local governments like Hendersonville to eventually decide whether to allow the sale of assault weapons in their boundaries.</p><p>Reach Axtell at 828-694-7860 or than.axtell@blueridgenow.com</p>